231 Free Humans, 22 countries: in a day and a half, the Wave started moving again
In my last story, published on July 19, I explained that the site was now ready, but growth seemed to have stopped.
We were then 196 Free Humans spread across 13 countries.
About a day and a half later, the counter now shows 231 Free Humans in 22 countries.
That's 35 new people and 9 additional countries in less than 48 hours.
The single day of July 20 saw 26 new arrivals. That is, so far, the biggest day of growth since FreeWillWave opened.
After a nearly motionless period, the Wave has thus started moving again very quickly.
The 200th spot has been taken
On July 19 at 11:12 PM UTC, Free Human #200, Mutiu Olanrewaju, from Nigeria, took his place.
This number does not change the world yet. But it represents an important milestone in the project's history.
Two hundred humans had then decided to make themselves visible in a space founded on a simple idea:
We choose for ourselves and we respect that same right in others.
The progression then continued.
#210, ComedyRIP, joined us from the Philippines.
#220, N.B. Godknows, joined us from Nigeria.
#230, Esther Atakpo, also joined us from Nigeria.
And #231, Jevaughn, joined us from Guyana.
Each number corresponds to a real person.
It is not just an account number or a technical identifier. It represents that person's permanent place in the history of the Wave.
Each new human therefore adds much more than a unit to the counter. They bring a presence, a country, a language, an experience, and an additional possibility of relationship.
Nine new countries in less than two days
I relaunched advertising in several countries of the Global South.
I cannot attribute each registration to a specific ad with certainty, but the visible change on the map in just a day and a half is impressive.
Nigeria already has 18 Free Humans, even though its first arrival is very recent.
People have also joined us from:
- South Africa;
- Uganda;
- Kenya;
- India;
- the Philippines;
- Papua New Guinea;
- Guyana.
Tanzania, Senegal, and Niger are also represented on the map.
I want to personally thank every person from these countries who decided to take their place.
Thank you to those who discovered FreeWillWave through an ad, by chance, through a search, or because someone told them about it.
You do not just represent a new color on a map.
You make this space more global, more diverse, and more real for all the people who were already there.
We are still few on a planetary scale. But when nine additional countries appear in less than two days, the world suddenly seems a little smaller.
A huge thank you to #40, Alistair A
These last 36 hours are not just about an increase in the counter.
An important part of the work done on the site was also made possible thanks to Free Human #40, Alistair A, in New Zealand.
Alistair provided invaluable help with several translations.
He also used the site from his iPad and reported various display or functionality issues that would have been hard to detect otherwise.
Thanks to the feedback from #40, Alistair A, I was able to improve:
- the messaging display on iPad;
- the use of the selector for sending energy;
- the live arrival of new message notifications;
- the display of dates in conversations;
- several texts and English translations on the site.
A precise report, sent at the right time, can sometimes save hours of research.
It does not just fix the problem encountered by one person. It improves the experience for everyone who will later use the site from the same device or under the same conditions.
To thank #40, Alistair A, I created a new energy animation inspired by the silver fern, one of New Zealand's great symbols.
The animation shows a young fern gradually unfurling, taking shape, and growing.
It was created in his honor, but also as a tribute to New Zealand, present in the Wave since its beginnings.
Thank you, #40, Alistair A, for your time, your attention, your translations, your tests, and your invaluable help.
FreeWillWave is a project I develop alone, but this type of contribution already shows what this space can become: a place where everyone remains free, while bringing what they choose to bring.
Energy continues to flow
The map has not only filled with new countries.
It has also continued to receive energy.
We have now passed 737 energy gestures, sent by 49 people.
Since the previous story, 56 new energies have been added.
Behind this number, each time there is someone who took a few seconds to say:
I am here. I am thinking of this Wave. I am giving it some of my attention now.
Thank you to all the people who send energy, occasionally or regularly.
A special thank you to Free Human #87, Samantha Read, from the United Kingdom, for all her sends.
#87, Samantha Read has already sent 81 energies and is among the people who most regularly maintain this visible pulse on the map.
I also want to thank #2, Lionel, #3, Apolline, #42, Rachel Smith, as well as all those who continue to use this gesture.
A special mention also to #231, Jevaughn, in Guyana.
He had barely taken his place when he had already sent 11 energies on the very day of his arrival.
This is exactly what I would like to see gradually appear: people who do not just add to the counter, but who immediately start making the space come alive in their own way.
There is no obligation.
No one receives a mission.
But every free gesture makes the Wave a little more alive for everyone else.
The site is becoming truly alive
I have continued to improve how we can feel what is happening on FreeWillWave.
When a new person signs up, the site can now draw attention with an animation and a small sound signal.
When a new country appears, the event is celebrated differently, with its flag, its name, and a particular signal.
The map, the graph, the badges, and several counters now update more in real time.
I have also added or fixed various elements.
Each person now receives a Free Human badge upon registration.
This may seem obvious, but the badge catalog previously rewarded certain actions without offering a true belonging badge to someone who had just taken their place.
This lack is now corrected.
A country's name also appears when hovering over its flag.
Badges and notifications can update without needing to reload the page.
Sending energy works better on mobile.
The graph now shows growth since the site opened on June 21, instead of only displaying the last fourteen days.
The windows for sharing and supporting the project have been completely reworked.
And when a session has expired, access to login is now visible on mobile.
Taken separately, each of these changes may seem small.
But together, they gradually transform the site into what it must become.
FreeWillWave should not be a static page that explains an idea.
The site must be a living space where you can see humans arriving, countries appearing, energies flowing, and a shared reality taking shape.
This living layer is not a decoration added around the project.
It is an essential part of the project.
In a world where our attention is constantly drawn to crises, conflicts, and negative events, I want there to also be a place where you can watch something positive being built.
Growth has resumed, but its true engine has yet to start
Growth has resumed, and that is excellent news.
But I want to remain completely transparent.
The new registrations are still mostly direct arrivals, probably largely driven by advertising.
The true person-to-person transmission has not yet begun.
No significant chain of invitations among members has appeared yet.
Advertising can help humans discover the site.
It can open new countries, create an initial impulse, and allow the project to become visible in places where no one had heard of it before.
But it can never replace the Wave itself.
FreeWillWave will become truly powerful when each person starts asking themselves:
Who would I like to have by my side in this space?
You don't necessarily need to convince a crowd.
You don't need to become an influencer, buy advertising, or speak in front of thousands of people.
Sometimes it's enough to think of one person, send them the link, and leave them entirely free to choose.
One person finds one person.
That new person finds another.
And gradually, the map stops depending on an advertising campaign or its creator.
It begins to live on its own.
This does not mean everyone must contribute in the same way.
One person can invite someone.
Another can send energy.
Another can help translate the site, report a bug, write an article, create an image, organize a meeting, or simply talk about the project around them.
No one decides which contribution is best.
But the Wave can only grow through what each person freely chooses to bring to it.
Thank you
Thank you to the 231 people who are now present.
Thank you to the new Free Humans from Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, Kenya, India, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Guyana, and all the other countries already represented.
Thank you to all the people who send energy.
A very special thank you to #87, Samantha Read, for her regular presence and her many sends.
Thank you to #231, Jevaughn, for starting to participate right from his arrival.
And thank you to #40, Alistair A, for his concrete, attentive, and invaluable help.
In my story of July 19, I explained that growth seemed stopped.
About a day and a half later, 35 new people have taken their place, nine additional countries are visible, and the milestone of 200 is now behind us.
In less than 48 hours, something has truly started moving again.
The map is breathing again.
Now, we need to help it continue.
See the Wave and energies live